"John Pagano's consummate artistry, sincerity and joy in sharing his music provided our patrons with memorable evenings of romantic standards for our
Valentine's Day orchestral pops concerts. His charts are all top drawer, and his deft and intriguing interpretations of songs from Cole Porter to Burt
Bacharach were all performed with style and elegance. We were delighted to work with John and our audience loved him."
-Rob McAlear
Artistic Administrator, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
"John Pagano provided our Stockton Symphony Valentine Pops audiences with an enjoyable, romantic, and thoroughly entertaining evening. He and his band members were a joy to work with. As one audience member wrote on
our Facebook page:
'John Pagano's performance last night was fun, romantic and just what my husband and I were looking for this weekend. My first Stockton Symphony visit but it won't be my last. Thank you for bringing such talent to our beautiful city of Stockton!'"
- Jane, E. Kenworthy
Executive Director/CEO, Stockton Symphony
Encore
For All We Know (James Griffin/Fred Karlin/Robb Royer) - Piano/Vocal only 3:55
Alfie (Bacharach/David) - Piano/Vocal only 3:59
House Is Not A Home (Bacharach/David) - Piano/Vocal only 4:07
"A Soulful Musical Journey: Songs of Love and Inspiration"
First Half
What You Won't Do For Love [Bobby Caldwell/Alfons Kettner] 5:03
A Man's World [James Brown/Dwight Grant/Betty Jean Newsome] 4:24
For Once In My Life [Ronald Miller/Orlando Murden] 3:40
Love Won't Let Me Wait [Vinnie Barrett/Bobby Eli] 4:16
Until You Come Back To Me [Stevie Wonder/Morris Broadnax/Clarence Paul] 4:08
Bacharach Medley [19 mins. 30 sec.]:
- What The World Needs Now Is Love Sweet Love [Burt Bacharach/Hal David]
- The Look Of Love [Burt Bacharach/Hal David/Andre Akinyele]
- Walk On By [Burt Bacharach/Hal David]
- This Guys In Love With You [Burt Bacharach/Hal David]
- Any Day Now [Burt Bacharach/Bob Hilliard]
- Alfie [Burt Bacharach/Hal David]
- A House Is Not A Home [Burt Bacharach/Hal David]
Second Half
What's Going On [Renaldo Benson] / Mercy Mercy Me [Marvin Gaye] 3:40
Everything Must Change [Bernard Ighner] 5:03
My Cherie Amore [Steve Wonder/Henry Cosby/Sylvia Moy] 4:06
Neither One Of Us Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye [James Weatherly] 4:39
The Long And Winding Road [John Lennon/Paul McCartney] 4:14
Who's Loving You [William "Smokey" Robinson] 4:34
A Song For You [Leon Russell] 5:17
Show And Tell [Jerrell Fuller] 3:44
Smile [Charlie Chaplin] 4:07
Encore
For All We Know [J. Fred Coots/Sam M. Lewis] 3:45
Hi-Res Photos
note: images in 16 bit .tif format -- downloadable, but not viewable with a web browser
John Pagano, Vocalist
More than merely a fine singer, John Pagano is a complete musician, possessing the rare ability to bring songs of nearly any era or genre to life while still sounding distinctly comfortable and honest—like no one but himself.
His natural musical aptitude has been honed by years of demanding work on stages and in studios, alongside such major talents as Burt Bacharach, Whitney Houston, Elvis Costello, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Wynona Judd, and even Jerry
Seinfeld, who hand-picked Pagano to open his shows in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
Those years of dedication and refinement have culminated in A Soulful Musical Journey: Songs of Love and Inspiration—a moving show that, while rooted in Pagano's childhood love of classic R&B, also brings that same
soulful sensibility to diverse other styles. Expertly programmed and powerfully delivered, the songs of A Soulful Musical Journey come together to tell a story, taking listeners on a journey defined by warmth, romance, resilience, and hope.
"Certain songs always stood out to me and gave me an indescribably inspiring feeling—chills or goosebumps, if you will," Pagano explains. "From my first listen, these songs touched my soul in a unique way...and even now, I still get that
special feeling whenever I hear or perform these tunes. My goal with A Soulful Musical Journey: Songs of Love and Inspiration is to provide that very same magical feeling to each member of the audience."
Pagano's childhood experience instilled an eclectic array of music in him, growing up in an Italian family in Providence, Rhode Island. "I am fortunate," he reflects. "My parents and older siblings had great musical taste, and continually played me
so much different music throughout my formative years." Consequently, the repertoire of A Soulful Musical Journey ranges from the classic soul sounds of Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder to the Beatles and even a stirring
rendition of Charlie Chaplin's signature tune, "Smile." And, at the core of the program is a medley of Burt Bacharach compositions—fitting, since Pagano has been the legendary composer's go-to male vocalist for the past 14 years.
A Soulful Musical Journey: Songs of Love and Inspiration follows Pagano's first orchestral show, Let's Fall in Love—which focused more intently on his radiant interpretations of material from the Great American Songbook,
with a few surprising twists and turns along the way. "I've always had the feel for those kind of tunes," he says. "After all, my father woke us up every morning to go to school with Sinatra!"
Let's Fall in Love drew much of its material from Pagano's recent album Pure Imagination, a stirring set of classic songs delivered live in the studio with a full orchestra—just as the great crooners of Sinatra's era recorded. Pagano made
a conscious decision, however, to not imitate the masters, but to deliver these oft-recorded gems in his own verse. "After one of the takes," Pagano recalls, "some of the older musicians came up to me and said 'I really appreciate that you sang them like you,
and not like Frank. We already have Frank!' That really got to me, and let me know I was on the right path."
Despite all that he's accomplished—including two symphonic pops shows, well-received albums, and years of touring and recording with luminaries like Bacharach—Pagano finds each performance unique and thrilling.
"When the time comes and you get out on that stage," he concludes, enthusiastically, "you just have to close your eyes, listen, and react. It's like being a boxer -- you can train all you want in the gym, but it's totally different when you step into the ring."
